France's decision to cancel the Caribbean Art exhibition at Centre Pompidou prompts debate and queries in the nation
In a surprising turn of events, the Centre Pompidou-Metz, France's contemporary art museum, has faced criticism following the cancellation of its planned exhibition titled "Van Lévé." The exhibition, which was scheduled to open in October 2026, showcased Caribbean and Guyanese art, and was organized by Guadeloupean curator Claire Tancons.
The cancellation of "Van Lévé," titled in the Creole version of the French phrase "le vent se lève," meaning "the wind rises," has sparked questions in France about potential bias in the museum's decision. The exhibition was to include acclaimed artists such as Gaëlle Choisne, the winner of last year's Prix Marcel Duchamp, and Pol Taburet, currently the subject of a solo exhibition at the Schinkel Pavillon in Berlin.
Claire Tancons, who has previously worked on editions of the Sharjah Biennial and Prospect New Orleans, found Parisi's claims of budgetary limitations "unbelievable" and stated that the exhibition had already received funding from organizations such as the Ford Foundation, which contributed $500,000.
A statement published by Le Monde from artists and curators appears to denounce the exhibition's cancellation. The statement offers unwavering support to Tancons and questions the assumption that a female curator from Guadeloupe with a well-established international reputation is overambitious, even when she provides a significant portion of the exhibition's budget.
Tabita Rezaire, an artist whose work was to appear in "Van Lévé," is also a signatory of the statement. Zineb Sedira, who represented France at the 2022 Venice Biennale, is another signatory. Gaëlle Choisne and Pol Taburet, both included in the planned exhibition, have also expressed their disappointment at the cancellation.
The Centre Pompidou is moving much of its programming away from its Paris base, which is set to close for five years for renovation. However, the cancellation of "Van Lévé" in June 2022, as reported by some sources, seems to contradict the information available, as the museum has only publicly announced the cancellation of a similar exhibition planned for 2026.
The tense email exchange between Claire Tancons and Centre Pompidou-Metz director Chiara Parisi, which led to the show's cancellation, has not been made public. Despite this, the controversy surrounding the cancellation of "Van Lévé" continues to generate discussion and debate within the art community.
- The cancellation of the "Van Lévé" exhibition, organized by Guadeloupean curator Claire Tancons, has ignited a debate within the art community, as the exhibition was set to showcase Caribbean and Guyanese art and include acclaimed artists like Gaëlle Choisne and Pol Taburet.
- Claire Tancons, a curator with a well-established international reputation, found the claims of budgetary limitations for the cancellation of "Van Lévé" unbelievable, asserting that the exhibition had already received funding from organizations like the Ford Foundation.
- In a statement published by Le Monde, artists and curators denounced the cancellation of "Van Lévé" and expressed unwavering support for Tancons, questioning whether a female curator from Guadeloupe with a significant budget contribution was considered overambitious.
- Notable artists such as Tabita Rezaire, Zineb Sedira, Gaëlle Choisne, and Pol Taburet, whose work was to be featured in "Van Lévé," have expressed their disappointment over the cancellation, adding to the controversy surrounding the event.
